The doctor sits across from us at the steel table, mouth pursed. My wife’s hand goes clammy in mine.
“Well,” says the doctor, “aside from the things he says he sees, your son does not show any signs of mental illness. None.”
“That’s a relief,” I say, smiling. “Isn’t it, honey?”
“You said aside from the things he sees, Doctor,” says my wife. “What do you mean?”
“Perhaps he has an overactive imagination.”
“So you’re proposing that it’s an overactive imagination that makes him wake up screaming every night?”
I do not mention that I have begun seeing them too.
Dear J Hardy,
You give new meaning to things that go bump in the night. Healthy serving of well done with a side of chilling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Now THAT is sinister. Well done
Well done. I think I prefer the overimaginative option.
Not imagination then. Time to move I’d say!
*Shudder*
Eeek! Mind you, if the boy really is seeing something, it’s better to know it. Truth is always the best plan, no matter how scary.
Intriguing tale — and thanks for sharing your photo.
The best part of this story was the bit with the shark…
…You can see that too right?
Move house now, and hope they don’t come with you…!
My granddaughter periodically suffers night terrors. Her Dad (my Son) used to as a small child as well. My grandson won’t shower alone (I have to stand guard) because he says he sees ghosts in the mirror. You never know.
Oh, don’t worry, your imagination is just taking suggestions from the boy… Yeah, that’s the ticket. Remind me not to visit at night.
Nice twist to the ghost story.
Ooh, cracking last line there! Bit of a Sixth Sense vibe going on, passed from one generation to the next. Nice tension, though I’d really like to read more!
Thanks!
Denial is the most frightening of monsters, and sometimes it comes accompanied by other nasty friends. I wonder how they’ll resolve this, and why the wife sees nothing…
That last line does it for me… terrific.
Yes, clincher of a last line.
Whew, boy I’m glad it’s not just me seeing those things. Sounds like it’s contagious.
Freaky! I want to know what “they” are, provided they don’t come anywhere near me ;-) I love the last line.
Get the salt! Or Buffy the vampire slayer.
Houses like that often have hidden inhabitants. Sounds like a cleansing is in order rather than a prescription.
“aside from the things he sees” is now added to the list of creepy quotes along with “I see dead people” and “I know what you did last summer.”
The things he says he sees. The doctor doesn’t believe him. :-)
I think they need an exorcist and not a doctor…
Now who is sane and who crazy? Or perhaps a mental contagious virus
They have a bit of a problem methinks!
Click to read my story
Yikes! I would move house if I were them! Great story!
Uh-oh. It’s one thing if the kid is seeing things. If a second person, especially an adult, is also seeing them…. time to run for the hills. I don’t even know what they’re seeing and it’s still great tension!
Ok. So you start seeing the ghosts that your son is screaming nightly about.
My first move would be to a Day’s Inn rather than a doctor ;)
Did these people not see the movie ‘Poltergeist’??
– Lisa
I’d be packing my bags. Great story!
That is scary! Thanks for a lovely photo
Very haunting at the end. I love it! Simple twists make the whole story. (And, thanks for the photo!)
This is great! Definitely makes me want to know more. I’m not sure the doctor will be able to satisfy those parents, with lies or with truth! Poor kid.
Very nice! Imagination or contagion?
I think they need a second opinion.
Well done and scary.
Definitely time to get out of there!
Spooky and worrying. Once there’s corroboration the things cannot be denied. This is just the start, what will the things do next? How will it develop?